August 7, 2011
St. Benedict’s, Los Osos CA
The Rev. Brian H. O. A. McHugh
1 Kings 19:9-18 Ps 85 Rom 10: 5-15 Matthew 14: 22-33
water - a poem of the water-walker in us all
water
water is life, yes
we float in the watery womb
we emerge a water-creature given shape in a shell of leaky tissue
dehydration is an enemy to be constantly watched
improperly drained, we bloat with edema that can kill us
yes, water is life and death both
we walk a fine line between them
too little is bad, too much is bad
like peter we must walk a fine line upon the water
it’s swim or sink, this living business
maybe sink and swim
when we drown here, only a bloated corpse rises
but not so when we live in the spirit
a boat helps
a vision, a path, experience, wisdom, strategies, insight,
help, o god yes, help
a vessel with sail or oars or engine
because to live we cannot just float
but travel across the great seas of being
the sea of mind, the sea of intellect
the sea of feelings, the sea of love
the sea of wounds, the sea of healing
the sea of struggle and the sea of peace
there are always waves and winds that batter
we can be blown helter-skelter …
or we can install some radar
“jesus came walking toward them on the sea”
who is this jesus?
he is the master of fear
“do not be afraid; it is I”
he clangs like an unseen buoy
sharp and clear in the dense fog
when we are far from land and the winds are against us
“follow me follow me
love one another
seek first the kingdom
do not be anxious
leave the dead to bury the dead
sell all you have and give to the poor
have compassion like the good samaritan
eat my flesh, drink my blood
do my words
have faith, come, walk on the water”
faith is not magic
faith is trust in what our heart speaks to us of life
that we can have what life offers us
faith is courage to step boldly into the wind and tempest
faith is knowing
[sing] we have an anchor that keeps the soul
steadfast and sure while the billows roll
fastened to the rock which cannot move
grounded firm and deep in the saviour’s love
as light must shine and fire must burn
so love must act
so we must step out
life can be dormant or vibrant
we can live in the paleness beneath the waves
or in the sun above
this is the call and promise of baptism
dying to a pale life, rising to a bright life
it is only love that catches us by the hand
only love that lifts us into life
this jesus who walks in the light
who commands us to come and walk with him on the water
for there is no other way to find life
even herod wanted to meet such a man
do we doubt love?
do we cry in fear “it is a ghost”
when love comes striding through the gale
offering its strong hand?
faith trusts love
and seeks to walk love’s way
love is stronger than death
it lasts
of the three is the greatest
life is full of storm and tempest
let us choose love
the winds will cease
let us live love
it shall be said of us
“how beautiful are the feet of those
who bring good news”
bhoam+
080711
The Rev. Brian H. O. A. McHugh
1 Kings 19:9-18 Ps 85 Rom 10: 5-15 Matthew 14: 22-33
water - a poem of the water-walker in us all
water
water is life, yes
we float in the watery womb
we emerge a water-creature given shape in a shell of leaky tissue
dehydration is an enemy to be constantly watched
improperly drained, we bloat with edema that can kill us
yes, water is life and death both
we walk a fine line between them
too little is bad, too much is bad
like peter we must walk a fine line upon the water
it’s swim or sink, this living business
maybe sink and swim
when we drown here, only a bloated corpse rises
but not so when we live in the spirit
a boat helps
a vision, a path, experience, wisdom, strategies, insight,
help, o god yes, help
a vessel with sail or oars or engine
because to live we cannot just float
but travel across the great seas of being
the sea of mind, the sea of intellect
the sea of feelings, the sea of love
the sea of wounds, the sea of healing
the sea of struggle and the sea of peace
there are always waves and winds that batter
we can be blown helter-skelter …
or we can install some radar
“jesus came walking toward them on the sea”
who is this jesus?
he is the master of fear
“do not be afraid; it is I”
he clangs like an unseen buoy
sharp and clear in the dense fog
when we are far from land and the winds are against us
“follow me follow me
love one another
seek first the kingdom
do not be anxious
leave the dead to bury the dead
sell all you have and give to the poor
have compassion like the good samaritan
eat my flesh, drink my blood
do my words
have faith, come, walk on the water”
faith is not magic
faith is trust in what our heart speaks to us of life
that we can have what life offers us
faith is courage to step boldly into the wind and tempest
faith is knowing
[sing] we have an anchor that keeps the soul
steadfast and sure while the billows roll
fastened to the rock which cannot move
grounded firm and deep in the saviour’s love
as light must shine and fire must burn
so love must act
so we must step out
life can be dormant or vibrant
we can live in the paleness beneath the waves
or in the sun above
this is the call and promise of baptism
dying to a pale life, rising to a bright life
it is only love that catches us by the hand
only love that lifts us into life
this jesus who walks in the light
who commands us to come and walk with him on the water
for there is no other way to find life
even herod wanted to meet such a man
do we doubt love?
do we cry in fear “it is a ghost”
when love comes striding through the gale
offering its strong hand?
faith trusts love
and seeks to walk love’s way
love is stronger than death
it lasts
of the three is the greatest
life is full of storm and tempest
let us choose love
the winds will cease
let us live love
it shall be said of us
“how beautiful are the feet of those
who bring good news”
bhoam+
080711
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